Press release by YB Ewon Benedick, ADUN Kadamaian and YB Phoong Jin Zhe, ADUN Luyang
KOTA KINABALU: We accept Tan Sri Harris Salleh’s challenge to propose motion at the State Assembly to revoke Petronas Agreement.
We have taken note of the statement by the former Chief Minister, Tan Sri Harris Salleh who stated that the Petronas Agreement was signed to comply with the Petroleum Development Act which was passed in Parliament in 1974.
He also said that Sabah Elected Representatives at that time also supported the decision.
Tan Sri Harris also challenged both of us to move a motion in the State Legislative Assembly sitting to revoke the Petronas Agreement.
We accept the challenge, and we will move the motion to revoke the Petronas Agreement at the State Legislative Assembly sitting which will be held on 18th to 21st July this month.
We are of the view that all laws passed in Parliament related to the rights and interests of Sabah as in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 must first be passed in the Sabah State Legislative Assembly (DUN) before being enforced. If it is not approved in the Sabah Assembly, then the act should not be enforced in Sabah.
We reiterated our strong opinion that the Petronas Agreement signed by Tan Sri Harris and Tan Sri Pairin Kitingan was a big mistake.
The elected representatives who agreed with the decision were also be held accountable for the mistake.
Sabah needs a strong leadership, who are not easily get bullied with the demands by the Federal Government especially when it only benefits Putrajaya.
We both are committed to continue to fighting for our rights as enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963. This includes optimising the Sabah State Legislative Assembly platform and also through legal process as we have done before when filing our Originating Summons (OS) at the High Court to pursue the implementation of 40% federal revenue in Sabah.
Shall we not success through State Assembly Sitting to revoke the Petronas Agreement, we will consider submitting application for Judicial Review to challenge if Petronas Development Act 1974 and Petronas Agreement is valid especially when it was passed during Emergancy which has now been revoked.
